Billy Matthew Early

Billy Matthew Early, known affectionately as Matthew to his family and Billy to his friends, traded his earthly toolbox for a heavenly one on Easter Sunday, 2026. Born on March 23, 1984, in Asheville, North Carolina, Matthew was a true free spirit who never cared to be tied down to just one place.

He has joyfully joined his father, Billy Warren Early, his uncles, and his loving grandparents in heaven.

His memory lives on with the large family he leaves behind. He is survived by his mother, Katrina Culton; his stepmother, Debbie Graham; his sisters, Traci Biddix and her husband Sean, Billie Renee Early, and Jewel Early; his step-brother, Stephen Culton; his loving godparents, Tim and Janie Fultz; his nieces, Lavetta and Lucinda; his nephews, Brandon and Vincent; his aunts, Renee Parker and Joann Labb; his uncles, Shane Penley and Michael Early; and many cousins who loved him dearly.

Matthew was a man of many trades who was great with his hands. A skilled carpenter and mason, and an avid fisherman with a deep love for the water and the outdoors. It is incredibly fitting that he shared the same trades as his Savior, because his faith was the bedrock of his life. Baptized at Redmond Missionary Baptist Church, Matthew was a disciple of the Lord. As it says in Matthew 4:19, "And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.'" Matthew took that straight to heart and carried that wherever he'd go. 

Whether he was casting a line into a river or sharing the Good News with a stranger, he loved spreading the Gospel. Though his earthly path was undeniably rugged, and he bravely faced steep personal mountains along his journey, he never lost his desire to spread light upon others. His nomadic lifestyle meant he never truly settled down, but it also gave him the chance to minister in the open air, touching lives far and wide. He didn't need a pew to find God; he carried his church in his heart wherever he went.

We take great comfort in knowing that on Easter Sunday—the ultimate day of redemption, resurrection, and renewal—Matthew finally laid down his heavy burdens and found his permanent, forever home . He is no longer wandering, but resting peacefully in the arms of the Lord, likely scouting out the best fishing spots in Heaven.

Memorial Donations

To honor Matthew’s life, faith, and legacy, the family requests that donations be made to the Asheville Dream Center (ashevilledreamcenter.org). The Dream Center facilitates spiritual, social, and economic transformation through the love of Jesus Christ, providing vital resources like live-in recovery programs, drug prevention, and community outreach to support individuals and families in the greater Asheville region

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